Mental exam for sailor in slaying of wife, unborn child

DuPage Judge Kathryn Creswell also signed an order seeking Gilford's mental health records from the U.S. Navy. Gilford was an active member of the Navy at the time of the crime.

"I have talked to his family and they believe he had mental health issues even before joining the Navy, and I want to look into all of that," said Assistant Public Defender Ricky Holman.

He added that he will seek to talk to any mental health professionals that Gilford may have dealt with before joining the Navy.

Gilford, 31, pleaded not guilty today to charges of first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child and home invasion following his indictment on those charges earlier this week by the DuPage County Grand Jury.

Gilford appeared alert and responsive in today's short court hearing, but didn't respond or appear to pay attention when a member of the courtroom audience called him a "bastard" as he walked out of the courtroom.

Gilford, who is being held without bail, has been charged in the May 26 stabbing death of his pregnant estranged wife, Kristine, 35. After the attack, authorities say Gilford fled to Wyoming, where he was arrested last month, then extradited to Illinois.

After Kristine had been reported missing, Gilford told police that the two had been arguing and that he thought the argument "was due to her being pregnant."

After the argument, Kristine left a note saying she was going to her family's trailer for the week, Eric Gilford told police. But he later found her at the Villa Park residence of her ex-boyfriend, whose address Eric Gilford found using a website.

Police found Kristine Gilford with at least 17 stab wounds, prosecutors said. The attack killed her and the 5-month-old fetus she was carrying, prosecutors said. Her 4-year-old daughter, who was in the apartment during the attack, told police that Eric Gilford used a hammer and knife, both of which were found in the apartment, prosecutors said.